The Far Country Will Teach You More Than You Want to Know

Luke 15 tells the story of a young man who approached his father and demanded his inheritance. The son left his father’s house and traveled to a far country where he squandered his inheritance with loose living. Doubtless, the young man thought he knew it all already, but the sad truth is that he learned far more in that far country than he ever wanted to know. He learned what it meant to be in need (14). He learned what it meant to be hungry (15). He learned all about shame and guilt, too. He was embarrassed to return to his father’s house, but he decided to go anyway to be made a servant even though he was a son (17-19). The truth of the matter is that sin is a master teacher, but it specializes in heartache and despair. Education is important, but the price of this school is far too high.